One person has died after shots were fired close to a Christmas market in Strasbourg, local authorities have confirmed.
Ten people are also hurt and security officials have cordoned off the area and trams have now stopped running.
The incident happened close to a Christmas market in the central square of Strasbourg, Place Kleber. Police have now said they know the identity of the gunman and are desperately trying to track him down.
It is not yet clear if the market was the target of the attack or if there was any link to terrorism. The French Interior Ministry has called on the public to remain indoors following the shooting. Local authorities in the Grand-Est and Bas-Rhin have now advised the public to ‘avoid the area of the police station,’ which is close to the city’s Christmas market.
Army officials on the streets of Strasbourg following a possible shooting
The map above shows the area where the attack took place. The French city of Strasbourg is on the German border
Images shows people running away from the square where the shots were fired
The Strasbourg-based European Parliament was on lockdown after reports of the shooting emerged, with MEPs, staff and journalists unable to leave the building.
The parliament is currently in plenary session, with hundreds of MEPs and officials having made the monthly visit to Strasbourg from Brussels. The European Parliament building is around two miles from the centre of Strasbourg.
French President Emmanuel Macron is being kept informed of unfolding events, according to his office.
Local authorities have advised residents to stay indoors and avoid the area close to the police station
The entrance to the Christmas market in Strasbourg (pictured above)
Macron is said to have cut a meeting short after being informed of the situation and is sending his interior minister, Christophe Castaner to the French city, officials at the Elysee palace have said.
Deputy mayor of the city, Alain Fontanel tweeted: ‘Thanks to all for staying at home until the situation has been clarified’.
Pedestrians gathered in the square, close to where the shooting took place
Local residents also reported hearing gunfire in some parts of the city centre.
Sinn Fein politician Martina Anderson, a Member of the European Parliament representing Northern Ireland, tweeted: ‘We were in the centre of Strasbourg town when gun shots went off.’
She added: ‘My thoughts & prayers with all who are injured.’
Yorkshire and Humber MEP Richard Corbett said on Twitter that he was in a restaurant in the city ‘where shots (were) fired’. He said the restaurant was ‘not letting anyone in or out’.
Deputy mayor of the city, Alain Fontanel tweeted: ‘ Thanks to all for staying at home until the situation has been clarified’.
Thorbjorn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, based in Strasbourg, also tweeted: ‘The police informed me tonight of a shooting in Strasbourg with possibly one victim and several wounded.
‘The perpetrator is still on the run.
‘This is a serious incident and I advise all staff and visitors to stay at home or indoors for the moment.’
Sinn Fein politician Martina Anderson, a Member of the European Parliament representing Northern Ireland, tweeted: ‘We were in the centre of Strasbourg town when gun shots went off.’
The Director General for Communication and Spokesperson of the European Parliament Jaume Duch, tweeted that MPs and staff had received text messages and emails to indictate their safety.
France remains on high alert after suffering a wave of attacks commissioned or inspired by Islamic State militants in 2015 and 2016, which killed more than 200 people.
Year on year, the Christmas market, which is located close to the Cathedral, is said to attract millions of tourists from across Europe and the rest of the world.
Jaume Duch is the Director General for Communication and Spokesperson of the European Parliament
The market has more than 300 stalls, strips of fairy lights, a huge Christmas Tree as well as various shows and concerts being put on throughout the festive period.
Strasbourg Christmas market is one of the oldest in Europe with 300 wooden chalets set up in the city’s historic centre from November 23 to Christmas Eve.
One of the biggest Christmas trees in Europe is put up in Place Kleber, the largest square in the city, which was named after French general Jean-Baptiste Kleber who was born in Strasbourg in 1753.
Images show armed police on the scene at the Christmas market in Strasbourg